Entire Stout Country of Origin: England
Brewery: Hop Back
Beer Style: Cask Ale, Stout
Alcohol By Volume: 5.0%
Format: 500 ml bottle
The Hop Back Brewery (surely you’ve heard of it?) has won so many awards since it started making beer in 1987 that it’s almost become, frankly, rather boring. Hop Back started the English craft-beer revolution, and you’d think they’d won enough medals by now, but they keep moving ahead without looking back. Their flagship beer, Summer Lightning, always wins something, but lately its dark and handsome counterpart, Entire Stout, has been getting the attention.
At the prestigious Brewing Industry International Awards held at the Guildhall in the City of London on May 25th 2004, Entire Stout took a bronze medal in the dark bottled beers category. In August Entire Stout was awarded a Gold Medal by SIBA, the Small Independent Brewers Association, as best bottled beer.
“We are really delighted with this latest award for this rapidly growing beer” commented Hop Back Brewery Founder John Gilbert. “Entire Stout has only been available in bottle since last autumn but is building a reputation as a very appealing and refreshing stout among discerning beer lovers."
This bottle-conditioned stout – that’s right, live yeast, no pasteurization – is over-brimming with roasted malt flavor and distinguished by a daring hoppiness that is Hop Back’s signature. There’s almost something American about the brash bitterness of this brew, but the depth and complexity of the balancing malts is unquestionably English. Look for a big roasted malt flavor and a clean, dry finish. It's low enough in alcohol, though, that you can drink it all night... |
